Etro

Veronica Etro looked East for inspiration. In her vibrant lineup were a silk kimono print jacket and pants, as well as an Indonesian batik chiffon floor-length dress. But refreshingly, this wasn't an "ethnic" collection per se. It was more modern than that: Sari overalls (a.k.a. one-shoulder jumpsuits) mixed it up with silk pajamas in a seersucker blue and white stripe, and an Indian-feeling mirror-encrusted jacket was interspersed among an emerald green ombré sequin dress and a matching tank worn with rolled-hem shorts. Throughout, Etro made the most of her family label's heritage, reviving the signature paisley in a very pretty salmon and mint combination for several looks, including a billowy gown that parachuted behind the model as she walked.

There were a few wrong turnsa too boxy jacket with passementerie detailing at the collar, a similarly square white leather vestbut overall it was a big improvement over a Fall collection in which heavy-handed styling distracted from the clothes. In a season of prints, Etro's are subtle standouts.